Town Hall

The CITT State of the Trade and Transportation Industry Town Hall Meeting is organized in an attempt to foster information exchange that positively contributes to resolution of port-related conflicts. In its infancy, the Town Hall approach was designed to make sure that the rank and file members of the longshore union were included in any debate surrounding port growth. While this is still the goal, the Town Hall has evolved to include a wide array of stakeholders interested in the relationship between the ports and the community.

The Town Hall meetings have received wide recognition in the goods movement industry. The event has received support and financial sponsorship from the executive directors of the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority, and Long Beach City College Office of Economic Resource Development and others. The event has also received formal endorsement by the board of directors of many trade associations.

After the 10th anniversary Town Hall in 2009, the series was renamed “Point/Counterpoint” to reflect the broader goal of offering an educational forum in which different perspectives on a pertinent issue are presented. However, the Town Hall brand was so established and powerful that stakeholders continued to refer to the series as “the Town Hall.” In 2013 the original Town Hall name was restored.

Town Halls are available via webcast. Videos from the event are also available for purchase. Town Hall videos have been used as an independent informational resource by governmental agencies and industry and community groups. White Papers which summarize the Town Hall discussion and highlight the key topic addressed are free of charge.